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I had a knee replacement op 10 days ago.

Posted , 143 users are following.

ann02425
ann02425

I have a continual, deep pain/ache in practically the whole of my leg. I use ice on it (frozen peas!) a great deal of the time and I take my pain killers. At night I cannot sleep because there is nowhere New I can put my leg which does not become become equally painful within a few seconds. Anybody else have this problem? Also, I had to stop taking Diclofenac a few days before the op. How long before I can take it again?

15 likes, 331 replies

331 Replies

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  • susan07114
    susan07114 ann02425

    Posted

    I had my tkr 17\8\15 and it is still very stiff and painful. I di my excercises but am struggling with the bending. My scar also seems to be hardening and sleeping has been a nightmare, I am still in the spare room as my husband has to work and needs his rest.
    • lynneB51
      lynneB51 susan07114

      Posted

      Hi 

      I had my replacement 4 weeks ago and like you sleep is a nightmare. I think every time I move the leg it wakes me and then I am an hour or so before I get back to sleep.

      my physio told me to massage my scar line as I too find this seems to be getting tighter and inhibiting movement. It has really helped. I massage the scar every hour with Diprobase ointment and at night I have just started putting lots of cream on and then covering with knee support bandage. It has helped a little. Good luck with your progress, it is. A slow job!!!

    • elizabeth66252
      elizabeth66252 susan07114

      Posted

      To everyone one who is struggling with post op pain following a knee replacement, maybe I can help. Today is postop day 11 and I have been to hell and back. By day three at home, I couldn't move, let alone exercise, because of the severity of the pain. Ice packs were helpful for the swelling and I was taking far more than the prescribed dose of pain killers to no avail. The solution? A heated wheat bag! Relief was instant. It's important not to have it too hot, so wrap it in a clean t towel before placing over the wound. I also sleep with a pillow under my back and shoulders, with my head resting on two pillows behind. I also sleep with a pillow lengthwise under my knee. This has allowed me to sleep comfortably on my back. The heat bag had been my saviour, may it be yours.
    • saz2020
      saz2020 elizabeth66252

      Posted

      Yeh, I was told to continue my pain meds for 2-3 days and the suggestion was it would start to get better after that... do they actually talk to their previous patients at all? It's definitely worse day 5 post op than it was day 3, plus my wound dressing is insanely itchy!!

      I'm a bit dubious about adding more heat though, seems plenty hot enough on its own - I love my ice pack, that's what's keeping me sane.

    • debz13
      debz13 elizabeth66252

      Posted

      The thought of using heat scares me. I don't want to take a chance on additional swelling at all! But I would live some relief!!

      I see my surgeon this coming Friday.

  • mick20638
    mick20638 ann02425

    Posted

    My Husband had a TKR one week ago he still can't lift his leg whilst sitting on the floor did anyone have this problem please apart from that he is doing pretty well I told him. It is still early but I would appreciate if someone who has had this problem could let me know for him thanks
    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 mick20638

      Posted

      Oh, YES! I had that same problem with my left knee total knee replacement this past June! When therapy came to work with me in the hospital the day after surgery I was unable to lift my leg, unable to move it side to side and felt NUMB from the nerve block for WEEKS after surgery!

      Swelling has a lot to do with success of movement. Be sure your husband ices his knee top and bottom frequently throughout the day. This helps. Also, sitting back in a hard chair with arms provides better support as he is trying to effect good movement.

      He is still in the very early stages at just one week post op. At that stage my left knee felt like a 1000 pound TREE TRUNK!

      I used my husband's belt looped around my foot to move my leg up and down, from side to side getting into bed, and getting it over the side of the tub while sitting on my shower stool. My physical therapist suggested this. I later discovered that she had had BOTH KNEES replaced four years ago when she was just 42. She moves so well know and you would never guess she had both knees replaced just a short time ago!

      It will come! Encourage him to be patient! Please update us from time to time on his progress!

  • vivian30082
    vivian30082 ann02425

    Posted

    I also had knee replacement on the 2nd of October 2015. I could not sleep for the first two weeks after surgery as my knee would hurt so bad no matter what or where I postioned it. Week three is so much better I can walk around my house most days without my walker and my pain is very minimal compared to what it was.I would suggest you go back to your doctor if the pain continues, however keep in mind that each patient recovers at their own pace. Good Luck it will all be better soon.
  • maila25804
    maila25804 ann02425

    Posted

    I had a total knee replacement 8 days ago and can identify with all of the posts regarding pain, swelling and in particular the difficulty of sleeping. I had my second therapy session today in home but had one on day 2 in the hospital. I went home from the hospital with a 95 bend and am now 105. I can walk stairs with pain. I have found the pain pills taken before and after therapy and the ice are lifesavers. Swelling is way down since yesterday. I am walking well with the walker. Cannot sleep because of the pain behind the knee but I doze off and nap in the recliner. Next knee replacement will take place in a little less than 4 weeks. Hope it goes well and the first is better by then.
    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 maila25804

      Posted

      You are doing great! Glad that the PAIN meds help.

      You will do fine with your second replacement and may find it goes easier because you will know what to expect.

      17 weeks post op from #1

      2 weeks post op from #2

      Just watered my flowers outside and noticed I had forgotten my walker and/OR cane INSIDE! YOU will have this happen, too!

      Best to you as you recover and prepare for #2!!

      ☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺☺😊😊☺

  • sue64229
    sue64229 ann02425

    Posted

    Hi,

    i had bilateral knee replacements 3 weeks ago.  I regretted having them done in the first week.  I was in so much pain and didn't have a "good" leg to stand on.  Physio got me up the day after my op and I used a walker where my elbows slotted into arm rests and sort of leaned into it to walk.  I thought I would die. After 3 days, I walked on the aid to the gym and came back 45 minutes later on a walking stick.  I cut out the use of crutches all together.  I was amazed at my own determination.  I used the stick for about 2 days and have been walking without any aid since.

    id like to say I'm pain free now but of course, that's not the case.  One knee as improved quicker than the other but they are both stiff and ache.  Stairs are by far the worst.  I was taken out for lunch today by my family.  It was my first outing.  I found sitting down on a normal height chair difficult and also, when I went to the bathroom the toilet seemed so far down.  Id hired chairs for home.  The walk around felt good but very slow.

    just wanted to say, everyone is different and recovery time is a long time.  I can say I'm glad I had the operation and feel confident my new knees will be good for me.  I have my first outing on a public bus this week and hoping I'll fair well.  I think we all shouldn't be so hard on ourselves and We should marvel on the fact that we're able to have this operation.

    i wish you all a speedy recovery but what will be, will be.

    • cheryl90571
      cheryl90571 sue64229

      Posted

      Hi Sue!

      So good to hear that you have been able to come so far in just three weeks following BOTH KNEES being replaced at the same time! My neighbor was several MONTHS at rehab before she reached where you are now!

      I am three weeks post op with my right knee. Eighteen weeks ago I had my left knee done. Both individually were plenty challenging for me even though I was fortunate to suffer no complications. I think you and others who have had both knees done at the same time are INCREDIBLY BRAVE!

      I, too, am grateful that my surgery is completed and that I was a candidate FOR surgery. My X-RAYS prior to surgery were just pitiful. I knew surgery truly was my only option if I was to be able to live the rest of my life in a way that I wanted to live it.

      Many people aren't so fortunate. My mother-in-law was told by several surgeons that she NEEDED hips and knees replaced (severe RA) but that she was not in good enough health to survive any operation. She accepted the opinions but wished she had had options. She is now in a nursing home and unable to walk. I sure do wish we could run the clock back and get her into surgery a few decades ago!

      Congratulations on your determination! You will succeed with whatever you do, I can just tell! Good attitude with a lot of persistence goes a long way to create successful outcomes. Thank you for inspiring us all to hang in there!

    • mark29788
      mark29788 sue64229

      Posted

      Hi Sue, I was advised by my Surgeon to not have both done at the same time. I had my left tkr done 10 days ago and have done very well. I am walking unaided. I left the hospital the day after surgery and negan home therapy 3 times a week. Today I walked 1/10 of a mile. Minimal pain, and minimal swelling. My Surgeon did not cut any muscle but moved it to the side. From what I am reading on this forum, I am glad he does this procedure. I have an appointment in 4 days to get my stitches out. I will continue therapy until I have the right done in 3 weeks. I hope that my right knee responds as my left has. Everyone does have different Rehab results. My tips are follow your PT exercises, ice as much as you can stand, keep up with pain management, and rest. Pray that you all have quick recoveries.
  • forrest11258
    forrest11258 ann02425

    Posted

    Hi,

    I am at 7 1/2 weeks and I can tell you that sleeping was a bitch. 

    It was validating to hear from others on this site in knowing that this is a very common complaint.  I could not get comfortable because I could not lie on either side......only on my back which would start to hurt after awhile.  They if I was really out and my body managed to slip to a side my knee would immediately let me know with blinding pain.

    What I can tell you is that I started seeing a major shift at around 4 weeks with progress in the recovery.  Was it huge? No but noticible enough to allow me to move forward knowing there was light at the end of the tunnel.  You are still super early in your recovery. 

    I have a friend that has an upcoming surgery for the same thing so I was like the guinea pig by going first.  I wrote a spreadsheet for her of all the things to do pre op and post op that no one tells you about so that she could be fully prepared.

    I noticed that you are using a bag of ice.  I tried that number for several weeks and it was an incredible pain notably because I was pretty much taking care of myself.  I HIGHLY recommend going through Amazon and purchasing a CryoCuff for your knee for icing and compression.  It is very portable and I have even taken it in the car with me.  The ice lasts for a good 6+ hrs and it is the size of a gallon picnic thermos.  Check it out.

    Promise it will get better.  We all did this for the ulitmate outcome and that is to get back to healthy living and you will

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